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Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

Robert Davis, 32, of Highland Park speaks to members of the media following the state-appointed Detroit financial review team's public meeting on Feb. 28, 2012, in Detroit. Davis raised questions to the review team during the meeting. / Patricia Beck/Detroit Free Press

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A labor activist may be allowed to pursue a lawsuit alleging an Open Meetings Act violation during the appointment of Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr as long as the activist doesnít try to remove Orr from office, a judge said this morning.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes signaled he may allow Robert Davis to continue a lawsuit accusing state officials of violating the Open Meetings Act in the process of hiring Orr to run Detroit. But Rhodes said he may allow it to proceed only as long as Davis doesnít seek Orrís removal from office as an end result of the case.

Andrew Paterson, an attorney for Davis, told the court he would not pursue Orrís removal. He said Davis is only asking for a judgment declaring that an Open Meetings Act violation occurred and reimbursement of legal fees.

Attorneys for the State of Michigan and the City of Detroit said they would accept a ruling under those terms.

Rhodes asked Paterson to compose a proposed order with those terms and file it with the court. After itís filed, Rhodes may sign the order.

The Michigan Court of Appeals in June reversed orders by an Ingham County judge that would have required greater disclosures by Gov. Rick Snyder about Orrís appointment.

Davis, who is under indictment in a separate matter in which authorities accuse him of stealing money from the Highland Park school district, is suing the Michigan Emergency Loan Board, which appointed Orr, as well as other defendants.